Scotichronicon

The Scotichronicon is the greatest historical chronicle produced in medieval Scotland and is one of the most important sources for understanding Scottish history, politics, religion, and national identity before the late fifteenth century. Compiled between 1440 and 1447 by the Augustinian abbot Walter Bower.

 

Origins

The origins of the Scotichronicon lie in the work of John of Fordun, who during the late fourteenth century composed the Chronica Gentis Scotorum ("Chronicle of the Scottish People"). Fordun's purpose was both historical and political. Scotland had emerged from the Wars of Independence with a renewed sense of nationhood, and there was an urgent need to demonstrate that Scotland possessed an ancient and independent history equal to that claimed by England.

Fordun's chronicle traced the legendary origins of the Scots from Scota, daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh, through Ireland into Scotland before continuing into recorded history. Although modern historians regard these early sections as legendary rather than factual, they illustrate how medieval scholars understood their nation's origins and were intended to reinforce Scotland's claims to antiquity and sovereignty.

Fordun died before completing his history. Around fifty years later Walter Bower undertook to complete and greatly enlarge the work.

 

Walter Bower and the Compilation

Walter Bower (c.1385–1449) was Abbot of the Augustinian Abbey of Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth. An educated churchman with access to important ecclesiastical libraries and state records, he was well placed to produce a comprehensive national history.

According to Bower himself, he began the work in 1440 at the request of Sir David Stewart of Rosyth, a neighbouring nobleman who wished Fordun's unfinished chronicle to be completed. The task occupied approximately seven years. Rather than merely finishing Fordun's manuscript, Bower transformed it into a vastly larger history. The completed work contains approximately 1.5 million Latin words, making it one of the largest literary works produced in medieval Scotland.

 

The Manuscripts

One of the most frequently asked questions concerns the whereabouts of "the original" Scotichronicon.

There is no complete original manuscript written by Walter Bower himself survives.

The manuscript prepared under his supervision has disappeared, probably during the upheavals following the Scottish Reformation or through normal medieval losses. Fortunately, numerous fifteenth- and early sixteenth-century copies survive.

The most important are held in the National Library of Scotland, British Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh Library.

 

The modern scholarly standard is: D. E. R. Watt (editor), Scotichronicon, 9 volumes

This edition collates all major surviving manuscripts, provides an English translation alongside the Latin text, extensive notes, maps, and commentary, and is regarded as the definitive edition for academic study.

 

Structure of the Work

The Scotichronicon consists of sixteen books, arranged chronologically.

• Books I–V
  • largely based upon Fordun's original chronicle
  • biblical history
  • legendary origins of the Scots
  • early Scottish kings
• Book VI
  • partly Fordun
  • considerably expanded by Bower
• Books VII–XVI
  • largely Bower's own composition
  • Scottish history from the twelfth century to the death of King James I in 1437

 

Layout and contents of this edition

 

Volume 1: Books I & II. xlii - 426pp. Illustrated: Colour frontispiece - Scota and Gaythelos leaving Egypt.  Concerning the legends of the origins of the Scottish Nation.

Volume 2: Books III & IV. xxix - 527pp. No Illustrations. Concerning the departure of the Romans, and trace the early kings of the Scots and Picts to the establishment of Albany under Kenneth son of Alpin and then to the the mid-11th century age of Duncan and Macbeth.

Volume 3: Books V & VI. xxxii - 521pp. Illustrated: Colour frontispiece - King Malcolm Canmore and the thane of Fife. Book VI is mostly devoted to biographical notes on the Bishops and priors of the church of St Andrews. Book V covers the period 1058-1153 and the reigns of Malcolm III and his sons to the death of David I. Particular prominence is given to Malcolm's wife, the Anglo-Saxon princess St Margaret. 

Volume 4: Books VII and VIII. xxxvi - 666pp. No illustrations. Book VII is more a reflection on continental history from the 4th to 12th century which the author deems useful for understanding the history of Scotland. Interestingly he looks to France rather than England for parallels. Book VIII covers the period from 1153 to 1214 covering the important reigns of Kings Malcolm IV and William the Lion.

Volume 5: Books IX and X. xxx - 539pp. No illustrations. Both books cover the reign of one Scottish King - Alexander III (1249-86) an era of unusual harmonious peace with England.

Volume 6: Books XI and XII. xxxiv - 505pp. Illustration: Colour frontispiece - The battle of Bannockburn.  Both books cover the period 1286-1319 concentrating on the events within Scotland that followed the death of Alexander III, when Edward I of England made his famous attempts to increase his authority over Scotland and defeat at Bannockburn. The story is presented as one when lasting views about the perfidy of the English were being formed.

Volume 7: Books XIII and XIV. xxx - 557pp. No Illustrations. Both books cover the period 1320-1390. A version of the deceleration of Arbroath is included and ends with the installation of the Stewart dynasty under Robert II.

Volume 8: Books XV and XVI. xxxii - 409pp. No Illustrations. Commencing with the coronation of King Robert III in 1390 and then deals with the leading events in Scotland until 1420s especially with the Scottish army activity in France at the time of Jean of Arc and the founding of ST Andrews University. Book XVI  deals mainly with the reign of James I.

Volume 9: xxxii - 558pp. Illustrated with both colour and b/w images of original manuscripts and others. This book contains the author's Prologue and Preface. As well as essays on various aspects of Bower and his work. There is a full index consolidating all the indexes of the previous volumes.

 

Each volume has the same dustcover image of Scota and Gaythelos leaving Egypt from the Corpus Christi College, Cambridge manuscript. The Latin inscription "Non Scotus est Christe cui liber non placet iste" (translates as "He is not a Scot who is not pleased with this book", is taken from the author's final comment at the end of the book.

These are an extremely tidy and well presented set of 9 volumes all with original dustcovers and clean and bright throughout.

Volume 1 - A very tidy little used if at all copy.

Volume 2 - A very tidy little used if at all copy. An attractive previous owner bookplate on inside end-paper.

Volume 3 - A very tidy little used if at all copy.

Volume 4 - A very tidy little used if at all copy.

Volume 5 - A very tidy little used if at all copy.

Volume 6 - A very tidy little used if at all copy.

Volume 7 - A very tidy little used if at all copy.

Volume 8 - A very tidy little used if at all copy. Previous owner name and date in ink on inside end-paper.

Volume 9 - A very tidy little used if at all copy.

These 9 volumes have a total combined eight of 10kg including packaging. Due to the value and weight of this edition, additional shipping costs may well be requested if shipping to a non UK Destination.

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